DeRozan DimeMag.com Interview

Dime: What are your plans for the summer?
DeMar DeRozan: For the summerÖrest a little bit, hang out with my family a little bit, than back to work. Iím going back to Cali to chill for a little bit, see where it goes from there.

Dime: Whatís one thing the Raptors need to build on going into next season?
DD: We showed spurts this season that we can play with the best teams in the NBA. We just got to be consistent with it and just go out there and go at each and every one of our opponents like they are one of the best teams in the NBA. Just stay more consistent, and once we get that down pat, weíll be alright.

Dime: Heading into the NBA Draft, what players excite you? Who do you think would fit in with your current Raptors squad?
DD: Itís tough to say, but I like Kemba Walkerís game. I played against him in high school. Just the way he plays, I think heíll make a major impact in the League using screen and rolls and being able to shoot and break down guards and everything. I like Kyrie Irving too, heíll definitely be big. But I think there are just a handful of guys though.

Dime: Whatís your take on players opting to stay one more year in college instead of declaring this year?
DD: I think itís good because with the situation thatís going on heading into the summer, we donít even know whatís going on. I think itís best for a lot of kids Ė Iím saying kids like I wasnít in college, Iím still 21. (laughs). A lot of guys can go back to school and see what happens and it gives them another opportunity to better themselves.

Dime: What are your thoughts on the impending lockout?
DD: Trying not to think about it too much. I hope it donít last long, but thatís something Iíll think about once the deadline gets closer.

Sounds like DeMar thinks his squad's guard play is weak, they need a impact PG immediately to be more consistent, and it seems like they need a PG that will make the team better. But it looks like we will get top 3 pick this year and Kemba is below top 3 so all the raptors can do is hope for #1 pick this year, or trade what ever pick we get down and get a Brandon Knight or Jan Vesley.

Andrea Bargnani will be on the block this summer. In Denver Raymond Felton has come out and basically said that if he doesn't get his starting job back he wants out. The Nuggets don't seem to want to give him back that roll so we should all know where that's going. The Nuggets are probably going to lose Nene if his own comments are any indication. On top of that, K-Mart is a UFA and so we start to see that in Denver they have friction at the PG spot and a rapidly forming hole at FC.

Denver also has one of Andrea's best friends and on top of that, they have a former Colangelo sidekick running the show.

Andrea Bargnani will be on the block this summer. In Denver Raymond Felton has come out and basically said that if he doesn't get his starting job back he wants out. The Nuggets don't seem to want to give him back that roll so we should all know where that's going. The Nuggets are probably going to lose Nene if his own comments are any indication. On top of that, K-Mart is a UFA and so we start to see that in Denver they have friction at the PG spot and a rapidly forming hole at FC.

Denver also has one of Andrea's best friends and on top of that, they have a former Colangelo sidekick running the show.

Andrea for Felton works after July 1. Question is.. what then happens to Calderon? He'd have to get moved, because I don't think Felton would want to stick around in a 3-prong PG situation.

I think it's an foregone conclusion that Calderon is no longer a long term option for the Raptors. Colangelo got caught trying to trade Calderon already once. The draft is the first domino that begins the end of Calderon and Bargnani in Toronto.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=3km4avx
Plus we get Denver's pick this year 22th overall.
Good for Denver because they get 2 starting PF's in Bargs and Amir, Damien James is solid SF.
Toronto get some cap relief, they get a starting PG, and a starting SF.
New Jersey get solid back up center for Lopez.

I don't think the Nuggets would do that. Blockbusters are rare. I think you would more likely see a simple one for one, Bargnani for Felton if it went down. Just like Colangelo moved Ford for Villanueva five years ago.

Felton comes in as the starter. Bayless gets another year at the backup spot. Both contracts expire at the end of next season, so for Bayless it would be a final year to prove he can become the long term starter. For Felton it's the same. This would have to happen after the draft, of course, just in case the Raps were able to land Irving.

Denver gets a pure PG to backup Lawson. No controversy here. Lawson as the starting slasher/scorer, Calderon comes in and creates open looks all day long for Afflalo, Chandler, Harrington and Gallinari spotting up to rain down the threes.

Win-win as I see it.

Apologies for continuing the off-topic conversation.

Last edited by jeff_hostetler; Wed May 11th, 2011 at 01:12 PM.
Reason: Apologies.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=3km4avx
Plus we get Denver's pick this year 22th overall.
Good for Denver because they get 2 starting PF's in Bargs and Amir, Damien James is solid SF.
Toronto get some cap relief, they get a starting PG, and a starting SF.
New Jersey get solid back up center for Lopez.

No offense but I don't like this trade. Barg's for Felton is a pretty even trade imo, so we are then trading Amir for Galanari which I don't think is a good idea. Amir is on a reasonable 5 year contract where he can be the back up PF if Davis comes into his own. Galanari only has 3 years left on his deal... If I a gm I want the guy with the longer contract is it is reasonable.

"We only have one rule on this team. What is that rule? E.L.E. That's right's, E.L.E, and what does E.L.E. stand for? EVERYBODY LOVE EVERYBODY. Right there up on the wall, because this isn't just a basketball team, this is a lifestyle. ~ Jackie Moon

Felton comes in as the starter. Bayless gets another year at the backup spot. Both contracts expire at the end of next season, so for Bayless it would be a final year to prove he can become the long term starter. For Felton it's the same. This would have to happen after the draft, of course, just in case the Raps were able to land Irving.

Denver gets a pure PG to backup Lawson. No controversy here. Lawson as the starting slasher/scorer, Calderon comes in and creates open looks all day long for Afflalo, Chandler, Harrington and Gallinari spotting up to rain down the threes.

Win-win as I see it.

Apologies for continuing the off-topic conversation.

I like this, and it really does make sense for both teams. Hopefully Felton can keep belly aching and make this trade a reality

Andrea Bargnani will be on the block this summer. In Denver Raymond Felton has come out and basically said that if he doesn't get his starting job back he wants out. The Nuggets don't seem to want to give him back that roll so we should all know where that's going. The Nuggets are probably going to lose Nene if his own comments are any indication. On top of that, K-Mart is a UFA and so we start to see that in Denver they have friction at the PG spot and a rapidly forming hole at FC.

Denver also has one of Andrea's best friends and on top of that, they have a former Colangelo sidekick running the show.

His recent comments are a 180 from comments during the season. He is working the media to secure a large(r) payday.

I think quite simply DD is familiar with Kemba from playing in the 2008 McDonald's All American game along with Ed Davis. He was also impressed with his play against Pitt in March Madness this year as evidenced by his tweet. I think DD is pretty focused on his own game and is no expert on the relative skills of current draft entries.

Kemba is a good player. But is he right for TO? And do they make elevator shoes for the NBA? Is arm extension surgery even legal in North America? My answer is no to all of the above.

Last edited by RaptorDan; Thu May 12th, 2011 at 12:06 AM.

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

What do you know...he thinks highly of Kemba Walker. What an idiot he must be...

I don't think you're an idiot, but just felt I should point out that DeRozan's praise of Walker is hardly scientific (it's not like he rated him against all the other potential lottery picks), nor has DeRozan established a keen eye for who will and who won't be a star in the NBA. I have a feeling if he was asked about many of the other picks, he'd either have nice things to say about them or he'd say he wasn't familiar with them.

That said, I believe Kemba will have a long, fruitful NBA career, but he's someone that, had this draft not been so weak, I'd be more comfortable with in the 7-10 slots. I don't see him as someone who Raptors' fans won't grow dissatisfied with. Would much rather gamble a tiny bit more on someone who, if he pans out, will be everything we've wanted. This is just my opinion of course, but I think he's going to be either a solid starter on a bad or average team, but a 6th man at best on a contender.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=3km4avx
Plus we get Denver's pick this year 22th overall.
Good for Denver because they get 2 starting PF's in Bargs and Amir, Damien James is solid SF.
Toronto get some cap relief, they get a starting PG, and a starting SF.
New Jersey get solid back up center for Lopez.

and give up Amir for another italian?I really like Felton but not so much to do such trade